Preservation of red blood cells with purines and nucleosides. III. Synthesis of adenine, guanine, and hypoxanthine nucleotides

Purine nucleotides of fresh human red cells and of red cells during storage at 4 degrees and 25 degrees C with additions of adenine, guanine, guanosine and inosine were estimated by HPLC. Six nucleotides were found in red cells: ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, GDP, and IMP. The adenine nucleotides represented 92 per cent of the total purine nucleotides, guanine nucleotides 7 per cent and IMP less than 1 per cent. In red cells stored with adenine the total concentration of purine nucleotides increased to 125 per cent of the normal value. An adenine-free but guanine and guanine + inosine containing medium caused a decrease of the concentration of purine nucleotides by 10 to 20 per cent. When red cells were stored without adding guanine or guanosine the content of the guanine nucleotides decreased from 0.32 to 0.17 mumol/g Hb due to the decrease in the GTP content, but the GDP concentration increased slightly. In CPD-AG blood, however, the concentration of guanine nucleotides increased considerably up to 0.6 mumol/g Hb. IMP was estimated in all investigated stored red cells. In CPD-A and in CPD-AG blood 0.4 mumol/g Hb were produced during 3 weeks of storage, but twice of that in CPD-AI blood. The principles of the synthesis and the degradation of purine nucleotides in stored red cells are discussed in detail.     

Preservation of resuspended red cell concentrate. Metabolism and survival rate of stored red cells

The sucrose-poor, electrolyte-rich SAG-sucrose preservation solution for red cell concentrates (RCC) proves to be superior to the sucrose-rich electrolyte-poor CDS-AG solution. After 35 days about 50% of the initial ATP were found and the 24 hours posttransfusion survival rate amounted to 76%. The replacement of sucrose by mannitol or sorbitol did not influence the metabolism of red cells. Guanosine-final concentration 0.4 mmol/l RCC-slightly improved the maintenance of ATP and morphology.     

Preservation of red blood cells with purines and nucleosides. II. Uptake and utilization of purines and nucleosides by stored red blood cells

The uptake of adenine, guanine, guanosine and inosine by stored red cells was investigated in whole blood and red cell resuspensions at initial concentrations of 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 mM for adenine and 0.5 mM for the other additives using a rapid ion-exchange chromatographic microanalysis of purines and nucleosides in plasma and whole blood. Increasing adenine concentrations from 0.25 to 0.75 mM in blood elevated the adenine uptake from 0.3 up to 0.8 mmol/l red cells during 2 hours after collecting blood. The intra-/extracellular distribution ratio changed from 1 : 1.3 to 1: 1.7. Some 2 hours after withdrawing blood into CPD--solution with purines and nucleosides the uptake of adenine and guanine resulted in 40 per cent and 70 per cent respectively and of guanosine and inosine in 80 and 90 per cent respectively. The replacement of plasma by a resuspending solution gave the same uptake rates for purines and nucleosides. The nucleosides were rapidly split to purines and R-1-P and disappeared from blood during one week. Adenine and guanine were utilized to 80 to 90 per cent only after 3 weeks. During the same period the utilization of guanine was smaller by 40 per cent than that of adenine due to the different activity of the purine nucleoside phosphorylase for these substrates. The plasma of all analyzed blood samples contained hypoxanthine and inosine, but guanine and guanosine were detected only in those samples to which one of them was added. After 3 weeks of storage the highest concentration of hypoxanthine was found in CPD-AI blood with 600 microM in plasma and the highest concentration of synthesized inosine in CPD-AG blood with a concentration of 100 microM in plasma. Three ways of utilization of purines by stored red cells were discussed : the synthesis of nucleotide monophosphates, the formation of nucleosides, and the deamination. The portions of these ways change during storage. The most effective concentrations of adenine and guanosine in stored blood seems to be 0.25 and 0.5 mM respectively. The full utilization of the nucleoside requires the addition of inorganic phosphate.     

Preservation of resuspended red cell concentrate. Release of vesicles from stored red cells

The effect of carbohydrates (sucrose, mannitol) and guanosine on red cell vesiculation was studied during storage of red cell concentrates (RCC) in glass bottles and plastic bags for 35 days. The course of vesicle release was followed by measuring acetylcholinesterase activity. It was found that sucrose and mannitol reduce the loss of membrane microvesicles. Preservation of red blood cells (RBC) in plastic bags results in a drastically retarded vesicle release.     

Purine salvage in Entamoeba histolytica

Pulse-labeling of the nucleotide pool in Entamoeba histolytica with radioactive precursors, and subsequent high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of the radiolabeled nucleotides, indicate that E. histolytica is incapable of de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides. Hypoxanthine, inosine and xanthine could not be converted to nucleotides in E. histolytica, which suggests the absence of interconversion between adenine nucleotides and guanine nucleotides through formation of IMP. Adenosine was actively incorporated into nucleotides at an initial rate of 130 pmoles per minute per 10(6) trophozoites. Adenine, guanosine and guanine were also incorporated at much lower rates. The rate of adenine incorporation was enhanced by the presence of guanosine; the rate of guanine incorporation was significantly increased by adenosine. These stimulatory effects suggest that the ribose moiety of adenosine or guanosine can be transferred to another purine base to form a new nucleoside, and that the purine nucleosides are the immediate precursors of E. histolytica nucleotides. HPLC results showed that the radiolabel in adenine was exclusively incorporated into adenine nucleotides and that guanine was found only among guanine nucleotides, whereas the radioactivity associated with the ribose moiety of adenosine or guanosine was distributed among both adenine and guanine nucleotides.     

Purine metabolism in Toxoplasma gondii

We have studied the incorporation and interconversion of purines into nucleotides by freshly isolated Toxoplasma gondii. They did not synthesize nucleotides from formate, glycine, or serine. The purine bases hypoxanthine, xanthine, guanine, and adenine were incorporated at 9.2, 6.2, 5.1, and 4.3 pmol/10(7) cells/h, respectively. The purine nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, and xanthosine were incorporated at 110, 9.0, 2.7, and 0.3 pmol/10(7) cells/h, respectively. Guanine, xanthine, and their respective nucleosides labeled only guanine nucleotides. Inosine, hypoxanthine, and adenine labeled both adenine and guanine nucleotide pools at nearly equal ratios. Adenosine kinase was greater than 10-fold more active than the next most active enzyme in vitro. This is consistent with the metabolic data in vivo. No other nucleoside kinase or phosphotransferase activities were found. Phosphorylase activities were detected for guanosine and inosine; no other cleavage activities were detected. Deaminases were found for adenine and guanine. Phosphoribosyltransferase activities were detected for all four purine nucleobases. Interconversion occurs only in the direction of adenine to guanine nucleotides.     

Effect of long-term phosphate starvation on the levels and metabolism of purine nucleotides in suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells

The effect of long-term phosphate (Pi) starvation of up to 3 weeks on the levels of purine nucleotides and related compounds was examined using suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells. Levels of adenine and guanine nucleotides, especially ATP and GTP, were markedly reduced during Pi-starvation. There was an increase in the activity of RNase, DNase, 5'- and 3'-nucleotidases and acid phosphatase, which may participate in the hydrolysis of nucleic acids and nucleotides. Accumulation of adenosine, adenine, guanosine and guanine was observed during the long-term Pi starvation. Long-term Pi starvation markedly depressed the flux of transport of exogenously supplied [8-(14)C]adenosine and [8-(14)C]adenine, but these labelled compounds which were taken up by the cells were readily converted to adenine nucleotides even in Pi-starved cells, in which RNA synthesis from these precursors was significantly reduced. The activities of adenosine kinase, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and adenosine nucleosidase were maintained at a high level in long-term Pi starved cells.     

Membrane Biochemistry : by E. Sim Chapman and Hall; London, 1982

Adenine, cytidine and guanosine nucleotides were supplied to cultures of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata under aerobic heterotrophic and phototrophic growth conditions. Aerobic growth is not affected by exogenous nucleotides (up to 10 mM) whereas phototrophic growth is strongly inhibited by adenine but not by guanosine or cytidine nucleotides. During phototrophic growth there is an inverse relationship between the concentration of exogenous adenine nucleotides and photopigment synthesis. There are no statistically significant differences between the inhibitory effect of AMP, ADP and ATP on the growth rate and bacteriochlorophyll synthesis since adenine nucleotides are incorporated into the cell as AMP by means of the phosphoribosyl transferase system.     

In vivo study of the influence of adenine and guanosine on the erythrocytes of ACD (pH 5.0 and 5.6) preserved blood

Data are presented for percentage of recovery, survival time (T1/2) and mode of sequestration of erythrocytes from ACD [disodium citrate 95 mmol/l and glucose (C6H12O6 X H2O)] 152 mmol/l or ACD--adenine or adenine + guanosine (pH ranging from 5.0 to 5.6) preserved blood for 35 days at 4-8 degrees C (277-281 K). With the availability of guanosine in 0.25 mmol/l or 0.5 mmol/l final concentration in ACD + 0.25 or 0.5 mmol/l adenine preserved blood a positive effect can be exerted on erythrocyte 24 hrs recovery and survival time (T1/2). This effect is particularly evident when pH of the preservative solution is raised to 5.6. Final concentrations of 0.25 mmol/l adenine and guanosine in ACD preserved blood (whole or packed erythrocytes, pH 5.6, Hct. 0.73 or 0.61) are sufficient to ensure 35 days of storage at 4-8 degrees C (277-281 K).     

Pentatrichomonas hominis: purine salvage pathway

1. Pentatrichomonas hominis was found incapable of de novo synthesis of purines. 2. Pentatrichomonas hominis can salvage adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, adenosine, guanosine and inosine, but not xanthine for the synthesis of nucleotides. 3. HPLC tracing of radiolabelled purines or purine nucleosides revealed that adenine, adenosine and hypoxanthine are incorporated into adenine nucleotides and IMP through a similar channel while guanine and guanosine are salvaged into guanine nucleotides via another route. There appears to be no direct interconversion between adenine and guanine nucleotides. Interconversion between AMP and IMP was observed. 4. Assays of purine salvage enzymes revealed that P. hominis possess adenosine kinase; adenosine, guanosine and inosine phosphotransferases; adenosine, guanosine and inosine phosphorylases and AMP deaminase.     

Profiles of purine metabolism in leaves and roots of Camellia sinensis seedlings

To determine the metabolic profiles of purine nucleotides and related compounds in leaves and roots of tea (Camellia sinensis), we studied the in situ metabolic fate of 10 different (14)C-labeled precursors in segments from tea seedlings. The activities of key enzymes in tea leaf extracts were also investigated. The rates of uptake of purine precursors were greater in leaf segments than in root segments. Adenine and adenosine were taken up more rapidly than other purine bases and nucleosides. Xanthosine was slowest. Some adenosine, guanosine and inosine was converted to nucleotides by adenosine kinase and inosine/guanosine kinase, but these compounds were easily hydrolyzed, and adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine were generated. These purine bases were salvaged by adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. Salvage activity of adenine and adenosine was high, and they were converted exclusively to nucleotides. Inosine and hypoxanthine were salvaged to a lesser extent. In situ (14)C-tracer experiments revealed that xanthosine and xanthine were not salvaged, although xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity was found in tea extracts. Only some deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine was salvaged and utilized for DNA synthesis. However, most of these deoxynucleosides were hydrolyzed to adenine and guanine and then utilized for RNA synthesis. Purine alkaloid biosynthesis in leaves is much greater than in roots. In situ experiments indicate that adenosine, adenine, guanosine, guanine and inosine are better precursors than xanthosine, which is a direct precursor of a major pathway of caffeine biosynthesis. Based on these results, possible routes of purine metabolism are discussed.     

Kinetics of hydrogen-deuterium exchange in guanosine 5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate determined by laser-Raman spectroscopy.

Pseudo-first-order rate constants governing the deuterium exchange of 8-CH groups in guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-rGMP) and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) were determined as a function of temperature in the range 30-80 degrees C by means of laser-Raman spectroscopy. For each guanine nucleotide the logarithm of the rate constant exhibits a strictly linear dependence on reciprocal temperature: i.e., k psi = Ae-Ea/RT with A = 8.84 X 10(14) h-1 and Ea = 24.6 kcal/mol for 5'-rGMP and A = 3.33 X 10(13) h-1 and Ea = 22.2 kcal/mol for cGMP. Exchange of the 8-CH groups in guanine nucleotides is generally 2-3 times more rapid than in adenine nucleotides [cf. g. j. thomas, Jr., & J. Livramento (1975) Biochemistry 14, 5210-5218]. As in the case of adenine nucleotides, cyclic and 5' nucleotides of guanine exchange at markedly different rates at lower temperatures, with exchange in the cyclic nucleotide being the more facile. Each of the guanine nucleotides was prepared in four different isotopic modifications for Raman spectral analysis. The Raman frequency shifts resulting from the various isotopic substitutions have been tabulated, and assignments have been given for most of the observed vibrational frequencies.     

Comparison of the effects of adenine-ribose with adenosine for maintenance of ATP concentrations in 5-day hypothermically perfused dog kidneys

The quality of preservation of kidneys is dependent upon a number of factors, one of which may be the concentration of adenine nucleotides in the tissue during long-term perfusion preservation. In this study we have investigated how adenine (5 mM) and ribose (5 mM) in combination affect the concentration of adenine nucleotides in dog kidney cortical tissue after 5 days of continuous hypothermic perfusion preservation. These results were compared to kidneys perfused with adenosine and without any added purine precursors of adenine nucleotide synthesis. Additionally, we investigated how these conditions affected renal tissue slice function after 5 days of preservation and how adenine plus ribose affected renal function after autotransplantation in the dog. Adenosine is nearly completely degraded during 5 days of perfusion but there was little loss of adenine (10%). The adenosine triphosphate concentration in kidney cortical tissue was higher in adenine/ribose-perfused kidneys (1.41 +/- 0.19 mumol/g) than in adenosine-perfused kidneys (0.71 +/- 0.1 mumol/g) after 5 days of preservation. Tissue slices prepared from kidneys preserved in the presence of adenine plus ribose were metabolically more functional (slice volume control and electrolyte pump activity) than slices from adenosine-perfused kidneys. Adenine plus ribose had no detrimental effects on kidneys preserved for 3 days as tested in the autotransplant model but did not yield successful 5-day preservation. Because of some potentially detrimental factors in using adenosine as an adenine nucleotide synthesis precursor, we have now switched to the combination of adenine and ribose for perfusion preservation of kidneys both in the laboratory and in the clinic.     

Profiles of purine biosynthesis, salvage and degradation in disks of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers

To find general metabolic profiles of purine ribo- and deoxyribonucleotides in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants, we looked at the in situ metabolic fate of various ¹⁴C-labelled precursors in disks from growing potato tubers. The activities of key enzymes in potato tuber extracts were also studied. Of the precursors for the intermediates in de novo purine biosynthesis, [¹⁴C]formate, [2-¹⁴C]glycine and [2-¹⁴C]5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxyamide ribonucleoside were metabolised to purine nucleotides and were incorporated into nucleic acids. The rates of uptake of purine ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides by the disks were in the following order: deoxyadenosine > adenosine > adenine > guanine > guanosine > deoxyguanosine > inosine > hypoxanthine > xanthine > xanthosine. The purine ribonucleosides, adenosine and guanosine, were salvaged exclusively to nucleotides, by adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20) and inosine/guanosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.73) and non-specific nucleoside phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.77). Inosine was also salvaged by inosine/guanosine kinase, but to a lesser extent. In contrast, no xanthosine was salvaged. Deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine, was efficiently salvaged by deoxyadenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.76) and deoxyguanosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.113) and/or non-specific nucleoside phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.77). Of the purine bases, adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine but not xanthine were salvaged for nucleotide synthesis. Since purine nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1) activity was not detected, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.7) and hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) seem to play the major role in salvage of adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine. Xanthine was catabolised by the oxidative purine degradation pathway via allantoin. Activity of the purine-metabolising enzymes observed in other organisms, such as purine nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1), xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.22), adenine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.2), adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4) and guanine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.3), were not detected in potato tuber extracts. These results suggest that the major catabolic pathways of adenine and guanine nucleotides are AMP → IMP → inosine → hypoxanthine → xanthine and GMP → guanosine → xanthosine → xanthine pathways, respectively. Catabolites before xanthosine and xanthine can be utilised in salvage pathways for nucleotide biosynthesis.     

Effect of bed rest on the adenine nucleotides concentration in human blood platelets.

The effect of immobilization in bed on metabolism and function of human blood platelet was studied. Blood platelets taken from patients with bone fractures after long term bed rest (14 days and 28 days) demonstrated significantly reduced concentration of total adenine nucleotides (after 28 days reduction about 30%). This decrease of total platelet adenine nucleotides after immobilization in bed is probably caused by stimulation of platelet secretory process. Thrombin which released from control platelets 58.2% +/- 1.5% of total adenine nucleotides liberated decreased amounts (only 23.1% +/- 3.3% of total) of nucleotides from patient platelets isolated after 28 days of immobilization in bed. Loss of nucleotides from platelets was accompanied by slightly increased extent of platelet aggregation. It is concluded that during bed rest the reactivity of blood platelets (aggregation and release reaction) is stimulated.     

Regulatory Role of Adenine Nucleotides in the Biosynthesis of Guanosine 5′-Monophosphate

Derepression of the synthesis of inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase and of xanthosine 5′-monophosphate (XMP) aminase in pur mutants of Escherichia coli which are blocked in the biosynthesis of adenine nucleotides and guanine nucleotides differs in two ways from derepression in pur mutants blocked exclusively in the biosynthesis of guanine nucleotides. (i) The maximal derepression is lower, and (ii) a sharp decrease in the specific activities of AMP dehydrogenase and XMP aminase occurs, following maximal derepression. From the in vivo and in vitro experiments described, it is shown that the lack of adenine nucleotides in derepressed pur mutants blocked in the biosynthesis of adenine and guanine nucleotides is responsible for these two phenomena. The adenine nucleotides are shown to play an important regulatory role in the biosynthesis of guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP). (i) They induce the syntheses of IMP dehydrogenase and XMP aminase. (The mechanism of induction may involve the expression of the gua operon.) (ii) They appear to have an activating function in IMP dehydrogenase and XMP aminase activity. The physiological importance of these regulatory characteristics of adenine nucleotides in the biosynthesis of GMP is discussed.     

Sugar-free growth of mammalian cells on some ribonucleosides but not on others

It was shown earlier that a variety of vertebrate cells could grow indefinitely in sugar-free medium supplemented with either uridine or cytidine at greater than or equal to 1 mM. In contrast, most purine nucleosides do not support sugar-free growth for one of the following reasons. The generation of ribose-1-P from nucleoside phosphorylase activity is necessary to provide all essential functions of sugar metabolism. Some nucleosides, e.g. xanthosine, did not support growth because they are poor substrates for this enzyme. De novo pyrimidine synthesis was inhibited greater than 80% by adenosine or high concentrations of inosine, e.g. 10 mM, which prevented growth on these nucleosides; in contrast, pyrimidine synthesis was inhibited only marginally on 1 mM inosine or guanosine, but normal growth was only seen on 1 mM inosine, not on guanosine. The inhibition of de novo adenine nucleotide synthesis prevented growth on guanosine, since guanine nucleotides could not be converted to adenine nucleotides. Guanine nucleotides were necessary for this inhibition of purine synthesis, since a mutant blocked in their synthesis grew normally on guanosine. De novo purine synthesis was severely inhibited by adenosine, inosine, or guanosine, but in contrast to guanosine, adenosine and inosine could provide all purine requirements by direct nucleotide conversions.     

The levels of soluble nucleotides in wheat aleurone tissue

The content of soluble nucleotides in aleurone layers isolated from mature wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Olympic) grain was investigated. The most abundant nucleotides were adenosine triphosphate, uridine triphosphate, and uridine diphosphoglucose. Smaller amounts of guanosine triphosphate, cytidine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide were also identified. The levels of some of these nucleotides were increased after incubation of the tissue under certain conditions.     

The connection between ionophore-mediated Ca-movements and intermediary metabolism in human red cells. I. Relationships between Ca-loading, ATP-consumption and glycolytic flux

Human red cells (RBC) were loaded with moderate amounts of Ca²⁺ by the ionophore A23187. Quantitative relationships between Ca²⁺-loading, ATP consumption and glycolytic flux were established. 1. Ca²⁺-loading is accompanied by ATP depletion. A maximum ATP consumption of approximately 10 mmoles/l RBC/h was estimated. 2. There is a positive correlation between lactate formation and Ca²⁺-loading. This is linear from 1.4 to about 4 mmoles lactate/l RBC/h. 3. Ca²⁺-induced glycolytic stimulation seems not to be mediated by adenine nucleotides. A wide range of energy charges and very different adenine nucleotide patterns were associated with the same stimulation of lactate production. 4. The turnover of the (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase and its share in the Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP consuming processes were estimated with inhibitors. 1 mM La³⁺ inhibited both Ca²⁺-outward transport and ATP consumption by 80%. The remaining 20% of the ATP consumption was accounted for by the (Na⁺-K⁺)-ATPase. 5. A Ca²⁺ extrusion to ATP consumption molar ratio of 2:1 was found. However, when ATP consumption was due to the breakdown of previously accumulated glycolytic intermediates, the ratio dropped to about 1.     

A comparison of purine metabolism and nucleotide pools in normal and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient neuroblastoma cells

Purine nucleotide synthesis and interconversion were examined over a range of purine base and nucleoside concentrations in intact N4 and N4TG (hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) deficient) neuroblastoma cells. Adenosine was a better nucleotide precursor than adenine, hypoxanthine or guanine at concentrations greater than 100 μM. With hypoxanthine or guanine, N4TG cells had less than 2% the rate of nucleotide synthesis of N4 cells. At substrate concentrations greater than 100 μM the rates for deamination of adenosine and phosphorolysis of guanosine exceeded those for any reaction of nucleotide synthesis. Labelled inosine and guanosine accumulated from hypoxanthine and guanine, respectively, in HGPRT-deficient cells and the nucleosides accumulated to a greater extent in N4 cells indicating dephosphorylation of newly synthesized IMP and GMP to be quantitatively significant. A deficiency of xanthine oxidase, guanine deaminase and guanosine kinase activities was found in neuroblastoma cells. Hypoxanthine was a source for both adenine and guanine nucleotides, whereas adenine or guanine were principally sources for adenine (>85%) or guanine (>90%) nucleotides, respectively. The rate of [¹⁴C]formate incorporation into ATP, GTP and nucleic acid purines was essentially equivalent for both N4 and N4TG cells. Purine nucleotide pools were also comparable in both cell lines, but the concentration of UDP-sugars was 1.5 times greater in N4TG than N4 cells.